Drying and ironing machines



Oct. 16, 1962 H. L. L.. .JESUS DRYING AND IRONING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DSC. 19, 1956 NVENTO? HENR/ L.L/ JESUS Attorneys Oct. 16, 1962 -H. L. L.. JEsus DRYING AND IRONING MACHINES Filed Dec. 19,1956

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m w. W

HENRI ,L, JESUS A from eys Oct. 16, 1962 H. L. L. JEsUs 3,058,244

DRYING AND IRONING MACHINES Filed neo. 19, 195e s sheets-sheet s lll.

#WEA/ron I HE/vR/ L.L, ./Esus By JMW 'f IMM,

3,058,244 DRYING AND RNING hMCl-WES Henri Lon Lucien `Iesns, 77 Rue de Bellevue, Boulogne-Billancourt, France Filed Dec. 19, 1956, Ser. No. 629,237 Claims priority, application France Dec. 23, 1955 Claims. (Ci. SiS-14) The present invention relates to laundry drying and ironing machines, and in particular those of the type described in the French Patent Number 860,191 of June 16, 1939, which comprises a rotary ironing roller and one or more non-rotary heating units on both opposite sides of wln'ch the linen passes. The object of the invention is to provide various improvements in this type of machine which increase the machines output, render its construction easier, and permit constructing machines of dierent capacities from standard identical parts.

Although these improvements are advantageously combined since in this way maximum advantage is gained, it must be understood that the various improvements may be incorporated individually.

A rst improvement is characterized in that the drawing oi of the vapours which emanate from the linen in the course of the drying and ironing 0f the latter, in the machine, is effected toward working parts (preferably the working parts of the non-rotary heating unit or units) devoid of coverings or jackets -in zones in which drying and ironing is carried out.

In this manner, the moisture of the linen does not pass through or impregnate any covering or jacket, since it is only dry air which passes through the coverings or felts, thereby increasing the eiciency of the machine.

In the preferred arrangement of this improvement, the vapours are drawn off through both working surfaces of the heating units which co-operate with the ironing roller or rollers.

To this end, the or each heating unit co-operating in the drying and ironing of the linen comprises at least one chamber which communicates with apertures in the working surfaces of said heating unit and with suction means.

A second improvement is characterized in that the or each heating unit comprises identical rectilinear singlepiece elements which are disposed parallel with the axis of the main ironing roller and in juxtaposed relation to each other around said roller, each of said elements having an inner part-cylindrical face coaxial with the ironing roller and comprising at least one passageway for the passage `of heating fluid or for housing a heating device.

In a preferred arrangement of this improvement, the latter is further characterized by the following features or combinations thereof:

The heating elements are held in their relative positions by end plates, to which the ends of said elements are connected;

The longitudinal facing sides of immediately adjacent heating elements are so arranged as to define a passageway therebetween adapted to be connected to a suction device; said passageway communicating with apertures of the working surfaces of the heating unit;

Each heating element is connected to the immediately adjacent element by at least -a plate which may be perforated and which closes said suction passageway, this plate having `an outer face which is substantially partcylindrical and coaxial with the ironing roller and being fixed to one of the heating elements and simply bearing against the other element (disposed adjacent the leading edge of the plate relative to the direction of movement of the linen), the edges of the plate being disposed in recesses formed in the heating elements;

Each heating element, which is preferably made of steel,

arent l 'ice is obtained by extrusion so as to require no subsequent machining operation.

A third improvement is characterized in that there is interposed between the outer perforated face of the ironing roller (through which hot and dry air may be passed for carrying away the vapours) and the covering or jacket of the ironing roller a series of springs secured, on the one hand, to the roller and, on the other hand, to a exible lreinforcing layer, such as a metal woven .fabric which surrounds the roller and is connected to the roller covering, so that the latter is yieldingly supported on the roller but rotates with the latter.

Another improvement is characterized in that the ironing roller or rollers and the heating unit or units are supported by rams which permit manually or automatically adjusting the relative positions of these rollers and units and the pressure therebetween.

According to a further improvement, some of the elements of the heating units may be provided `on their outer face with recesses adapted to co-operate with auxiliary ironing rollers so as to still more increase the efliciency of the machine.

-Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of some embodiments of drying and ironing machines to which the invention is in no way limited.

In the drawings- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a part of an ironing roller and a heating unit;

FIG. 2 is a similar View, a series of springs having been interposed between the roller and the covering 4or jacket for the latter;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view-on an enlarged scale of a part of an ironing roller and a covering therefor, with a series of springs of special type inserted between the roller and said covering;

FIG. 4 is an elevational View of the springs shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the essential components of the drying and ironing machine comprising principally an ironing roller and a heating unit surrounding a part of the periphery `of the latter;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 5, the ironing roller being shown moved upwardly away from the heating unit; Y

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the essential components of la drying and ironing machine oflarge capacity comprising principally an ironing roller, a heating unit in two parts surrounding almost the whole of the periphery of the roller and a series of auxiliary ironing rollers co-operating With recesses formed in the upper part of the heating unit, and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG-JM, the ironing roller with the upper part of the heating unit and the auxiliary ironing rollers being shown in raised position.

In FIG. 1, 1 designates the cylindrical wall, having perforations 2, of a hollow ironing roller. The inside cavity of the latter advantageously communicates with a source of hot and dry air. Fixed by means of clips 3 (or any other fixing means) on the wall 1 is a stainless woven metal fabric 4 which is connected by pointed elements or tacks 5, distributed over the woven metal fabric, to the conventional covering or jacket 6 which enters into direct contact with the linen A. Y

The heating unit, along which slides the linen A driven by the roller 1 provided with the covering 6, consists of identical rectilinear heating elements 7 which are juxtaposed, extend in adirection parallel to the axis of the ironing roller and are held at their ends in end-plates, not shown in the drawing. These elements have part- Vchines of widely varying capacities.

cylindrical outer and inner faces which are coaxial with the ironing roller.

Each of the heating elements 7 forming the heating unit comprises a longitudinal passageway 8 for the passage of heating fluid (for example steam) or for the housing of a heating device such as a heating resistance. Provided in each of the longitudinal sides of each element 7 is a longitudinal groove 9 so that there is obtained, between immediately adjacent elements, a passageway 9a one end of which has an aperture 1t) which communicates with a suction device.

Each groove 9 is lled with insulating material 61 which is retained in said groove by means of a perforated sheet 62, in order to hinder as far as possible any loss of the heat emitted in the passageway 8, through the longitudinal sides of the heating units.

The heating elements 7 are interconnected by perforated plates 11 the longitudinal edges of which are disposed bear against the surfaces projecting with respect to the groove 9 of said elements and are separated each other by a gap. Said sheets form with Vthe plates 111 a passageway 63 lwhich communicates with the aperture 10.

In the embodiment shown in lFIGS. 1 and 2, the linen A moves along the inner and outer faces of the heating unit in opposite directions corresponding to arrows F and f, the movement across the convex face (arrow f) being obtained Iby means of a conveyer belt 13 which moves in lthe opposite direction to the periphery of the ironing roller.

Owing to the suction through the passageways 9, the vapours which emanate from the still-moist linen are drawn off through the perforations in the plates 11. This moisture therefore does not penetrate the covering 6 or the conveyer belt 13.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, in which like reference numerals designate like members shown in FIG. l, a series of springs E14 is provided between the woven metal fabric 4 supporting the covering 6 and the periphery of the ironing roller 1. Each of these springs consists of a blade of which one end is fixed to the cylinder and the other hooked on to the woven meti al fabric 4.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a particularly advantageous type of spring. In this embodiment, the springs comprise several pairs of lblade units 15a and 15b, each unit having a base common to the blades disposed on the same side. The bases of the same pair of blade units are superimposed and fixed to the roller yl; between the rows of perforations 2 by rivets 16 or the like. Some of the blades are provided with tabs 17 which are engaged in the woven metal fabric 4, the latter being secured to the covering 6 by fixing means 17a.

, Owing to the fact that the heating unit is compose of juxtaposed standard elements extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the ironing roller, it is possible to construct from these elements drying and ironing ma- A machineV of small capacity could be subsequently transformed into a machine of larger capacity.

A machine of medium capacity is shown in FIGS. and 6 and comprises a heating unit 21 surrounding substantially the lower half Vof an ironing roller 22 which is enclosed in a series of guide bands 23 which, in this embodiment, pass around band tensioning rollers 24.

A belt or band conveyer 25, having its output end adjacent the roller 22, feeds the pieces of linen A into the machine.

On the upper half of the roller y22. the linen is held against the guide bands 23 (which drive it in the direction of arrow F) by a series of straps 26 which are held taut on rollers 27 and on an end member 28 which tits into one of the two ends of the heating unit 21.

After this point, the linen A, which is still driven in the direction of arrow F by the guide bands 23 of the roller 22, enters into contact with the concave inner face of the heating unit 21 and moves along this face up to the other end of the heating unit which is rounded oi at Z9.

Under the effect of the guide bands 23, which move away from the roller 22, the linen continues round the end 29 and is engaged by a felt member 30 which passes around rollers 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 and applies the linen against the convex outer face of the heating uni-t 21 and moves it in the direction of arrow f.

When it arrives at the opposite end of the heating unit to the end 29, the linen is gripped between the straps 26 and the felt member 30 and is fed out of the machine.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the roller 22 with the guide bands 23 and the rollers 24, the straps 26 and the output end of the feed conveyor 25, may be separated from the heating unit 21 by a pivoting motion about a pivot shaft O.

FIGS. 7 and S show a drying and ironing machine of large capacity which vtakes up hardly more room than the machine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heating unit 41 here comprising a larger number of elements than in the preceding embodiment so as to almost completely surround the ironing .roller 42.

The heating unit 41 is subdivided into two parts, 41a and 41b which are separable by pivoting the upper part 41a about a pivot shaft O about which the roller 42 and certain members associated therewith are also pivotable. l

In this embodiment, some of the elements of the upper part 41a of the heating unit are provided with outer part-cylindrical longitudinal recesses in which partially engage auxiliary ironing rollers 43 around the assemblage of which passes a series of guide bands 44 which are held taut by two end rollers 45 and 46, the latter being a driving roller.

The linen is introduced into the machine by a conveyor 47 which feeds the linen between the outer face of the upper part 41a of the heating unit and the guide bands 44. After it has passed between the bands 44 and the part 41a, the linen passes between the outer face of the lower part 4111 of the heating unit and a felt band 48 which passes around rollers 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54.

When it reaches the round end 4121 of the part 4111 of the heating unit, the linen is directed by the roller 54 toward the main ironing roller 42 which drivingly engagesit and applies it against the inner face of the whole of the heating unit 41 lfrom the end 41a of which the now dried and ironed linen is separated by guide bands 55 (which co-operate with the roller 42) and is received on the upper horizontal portion of the felt band 48.

The felt band 48 co-operates with a conveyor band 56 which passes around rollers 57, 58, 59 and 60.

When it leaves the upper horizontal portion of the felt band 48, the linen is gripped between the downwardly extending and horizontal parts of the felt band and the conveyor band 56.

yIt is the upwardly extending portion of the conveyor band 56 which feeds the linen out of the machine.

As in the preceding embodiment, the main ironing roller and the members associated with the upper half 0f this roller V(guide Ibands `55, upper part 41a of the heating uni-t 41, auxiliary rollers 43, guide bands 44, etc.) may be raised by a pivoting motion about a pivot shaft O.

In all the embodiments described above, the raisable members may be shifted and supported by rams which permit, in particular, adjusting the pressure between the heating unit and the ironing roller or rollers.

It will also be observed that as the heating units are made up of juxtaposed standard elements, it is possible, in constructing heating units comprising a variable number of said elements, to obtain machines of widely varying capacities without it being necessary to store a large number of different parts.

Although specic embodiments of the invention have been described, many modications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the apended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a linen drying and ironing machine, the combination of: at least one rotary roller, the periphery of which is provided with a covering; at least one non-rotary heating unit having two working faces opposite to each other, one of which is arranged to cooperate with the rotary roller for the purpose of passing linen between the heating unit and said covering, said heating unit including suction ducts connectable to suction means and opening on to at least one of the working faces of said unit so as to draw 0E vapours emanating from the linen; and a conveyor belt surrounding the other working face of the heating unit for the purpose of passing linen between the said heating unit and said conveyor belt.

2. A linen drying and ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating unit is formed, on the one hand, of a plurality of oblong single-piece elements, each being parallel with the axis of the rotary roller, comprising at least one longitudinal cavity and having two opposite part-cylindrical working surfaces substantially coaxial with the rotary roller, said elements -being joined together by their facing longitudinal sides in order to form said unit, and, on the other hand, heating means located in said longitudinal cavities.

3. A linen drying and ironing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the facing longitudinal sides of said elements of the heating unit are grooved so as to form, as the elements are in their juxtaposed position, the suction ducts of the heating unit.

4. A linen drying and ironing machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one perforated plate for bridging two juxtaposed elements of the heating unit, said plate being so arranges1 and disposed as to form at least one part of the wall of the suction duct and presents a face substantially part-cylindrical and coaxial with the rotary roller, said plate being fixed to one of the two juxtaposed elements and bearing against the other element, whereas the longitudinal edges of the plate being disposed in recesses fin said elements.

5. A linen and ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating unit comprises: a plurality of oblong single-piece elements each being parallel with the axis of the rotary roller, having at least one longitudinal cavity, heating means located in said cavity, and two opposite part-cylindrical working surfaces substantially coaxial with the rotary roller, the facing longitudinal sides of the elements being grooved; heat insulating material in each groove of the heating elements; a perforated sheet applied onto each lfacing longitudinal side of each of the elements' for maintaining the insulating material in the grooves, the two perforated sheets located in the junction area of each pair of adjacent elements being spaced apart one other; two perforated plates for bridging two juxtaposed elements one of which forming the suction ducts, the perforated plates forming with the perforated sheets, longitudinal suction passageways at one end of which are provided apertures intended to be connected to suction means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,557 lCline Sept. 18, 19123 1,491,302 Hamilton Apr. 22, 1924 1,689,462 Trotter et al. Oct. 30, 1928 1,769,010 Adams Iuly 1, 1930 2,057,988 West Oct. 20, 1936 2,195,937 P'ointon et al. Apr. 2, 1940 2,652,644 Howlett Sept. 22, 1953 2,657,483 ZWaard NOV. 3, 1953 2,708,322 De Frances May 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 410,522 -Great Britain May 24, 1934 805,339 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1958 

